Brassiere



1932- E. BISSETT 1,874,868

BRASSIERE File'd Dec. '5. 1950. 2 Shet's-Sheet '1 Aug. 30, 1932. 4 E. BlSS ETT I I 1,874,863

' v BRASSIERE Filed Dec. 5. 1950, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE NTQR ENID BISSETT HER A TORNEY.

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EN ID BISSETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y ABSIGNOB TO MAIDEN FORM; BRASSIEBE 00., INC, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF N EW YORK amsmn Application filed December 5, 1930; Serial No. 600,210.

This invention relates broadly to a new brassiere construction.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a brassiere which 1s adapted to adjustment to conform to the contour of the wearers body.

A further object of this inventlon is the provision of a brassiere adapted to ad uStment to conform to the'shape of the bust.

A further object of this invention 1s the provision of a novel brassiere construct on incorporating means for adjustahl sh1rr 1 ng the upper edge thereof to cause s a1 brasslere to firmly and securely adapt itself to the conformation of the bust without slipping despite the absence of the usual shoulder straps.

A further object of this mvention 1s the provision of a novel brassiere construction including means for adj ustably fastemngthe same to the wearers body without the utillzation thereon of shoulder straps.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a brassiere having no shoulder straps and formed with breast recelvlng pockets disposed between the upper and lower edges thereof and having means disposed along the upper edge thereof to shirr said pockets to conform to the contour of the wearers bust.

A still further object of this invention 15 the provision of a brassiere having seams so disposed as to eliminate strain and pressure on the breast, and having silk or net covered elastic inserts interposed in the back bands thereof-to make the same readily adjustable These and many other objects are attained by the brassiere construction disclosed herein.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts, all as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings in which the same reference numerals will be used throughout the several views to indicate the same or similar parts,

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of my novel brassiere;

Fig. 2 is a broken front elevational view artly in section of the upper edge of said rassiere 5 Fig. 3 IS a front perspective view showing nection with fashionable low-backed ty es of evening owns. It is quite apparent t at the types 0 brassire heretofore worn with low backed evening gowns needs must be without shoulder stra s or side and back pieces. Although it might across the front,

e formed with the usual iiat strip or pocket type of support for the individual breasts, it could not, in the back, employ the usual shoulder strap and back piece means of support and securement to the wearers body. In the provision of a brassire for this use difliculty has been encountered in properly and removably securing brassiere pockets individually to the dress or gown proper or to the other undergarment worn with the low backed evening gown. Aside from this, securement of what might be termed a artial brassiere to an undergarment or ress is generally unsatisfactory due to the difficulty of removing the same for washing and cleaning.

Many expedients have been devised to circumvent these difliculties none of which have been wholly or even partially successful. It is the purpose of th1s invention to create a brassiere construction from which there is obviated the aforementioned undesirable effects and ,into which there is incorporated positive securing means for securing a -brassiere as a separate and distinct piece of wearing apparel to the body of the wearer independently of and in harmony with the lowacked type of wearing apparel worn by the woman.

It will be noted that the brassiere hereinafter disclosed is strapless and stays up without the help of shoulder straps. Further than this it is backless as well as being strapless and firmly supports the breasts beneath the shoulderless and backless types of evening gowns. It is adaptable to adjustment to fit the wearers figure perfectly b utilizing slender elastic and ribbon bands ereinafter disclosed which tie in two tiny bows. In the event that it is desired to use the brassiere with da time costumes such use may be had by simply attaching the brassiere to the slip or other undergarment worn by the wearer under her frock.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that in Fig. 1 there is shown a brassiere made up of light lace, net or other suitable soft material which will not cause skin irritation of the wearers breasts. This material is cut, formed and sewn so as to yield two pocket portions 1 and 2 after the type and along the outline and fashion delineated in United States Letters Patent No. 1,648,464. issued on November 8, 1929 to William Rosenthal. A brassiere having such pockets tends to support the breasts in their natural conformation without any pressing or flattening down akin to that caused by the usual single flat front piece type of brassiere and I, therefore, show my invention as used in a brassiere of such type. Despite this, however, it is obvious that although I show the front portion of the brassiere as made up of two pockets that the novel shirring and securing brassiere construction which I hereinafter disclose might just as readily be used with a fiat front piece type of brassiere.

It will be noted that secured and attached to these two pockets 1 and 2 are the tapering side and back portions, 3 and 4, made up of similar material. Attached to the free outer ends of these side and back portions 3 and 4 are elastic inserts 5 and 6 which, for the convenience of the wearer, and, to

prevent irritation of the skin may be covered with silk or netting. These elastic inserts 5 and 6 have secured thereto at their free outer end the ribbon or silk elongated back straps 7 and 8 which carry at the ends thereof the usual hook and eye fastening 9 and 10. The ribbon strips 7 and 8 are to be made of such length that they or the elastic inserts 5 and 6 may be crossed substantially at the middle of the back of the wearer and then carried around the body of the wearer substantially at the waist line and fastened by the hook and eye in the front. The two side and back pieces 3 and 4 are "so designed that they cross substanto avoid observation. 1

It is obvious that the expedient of winding the side and back pieces and their respective ribbon extensions around the wearers body and the fastening thereof in the front, in and of itself must-fail unless some means such as I hereinafter disclose are incorpo rated in the breast supporting portionor Referring particularly to Fig. 2 with regard to the expedient which I have devised to accomplish this end. it will be noticed that the upper edge of the brassiere may be formed with a sewn-over binding portion of ribbon or the like so as to form a series of passageways 11 along the upper edges of the pock ets in which passageways are mounted elastic elements 12 which are each sewn at one end thereof 13 along the line of seam 14 joining the respective pockets 1 and 2 to the side and back portions 3 and 4;. At the other ends 15 of the elastic elements 12 there may be sewn short pieces of ribbon 16 which extend through the passageways 11 to the outer side of the brassiere at the openings 17 located approximately above the center of the pockets 1 and 2, in the upper edge of the brassiere. By thus tacking the elements 12 to the seams 14: leaving the free ends of ribbons 16 extending from the openings 17 a ready means is provided whereby adjustment of the breast-pocket dimension across the top thereof may be effected by pulling the elastic inserts 12 through the passageways 11 to any desired, point and tying the ribbons 16 into a bow 18 and al lowing the elastic on retraction, to effect a shirring of the upper edge of the brassiere pocket to form the Shirred edge 19. 7

By utilizing four elastic elements of the character described; two, fastened alongthe line of seam where the brassiere pockets are joined together; and two, fastened at the ends of the pockets it is possible to create a brassiere design which lends itself to ready adjustment to conform to the configuration of the wearers breasts to the end that in the absence of shoulder straps the brassiere is prevented from slipping down.

By utilizing the brassiere construction hereis disclosed a brassiere is created adaptable to use with evening frocks with a firm form engaging construction.

It is, of course, generally desirable that all portions of the garment intended to contact with the skin of the wearer be provided with or made of a material that in no way can irritate the skin and to thisend the bands intended to encircle the body of the wearer f bl h ld b 'l tially low enough down on the wearers back pm em y S on e of S1 k or hke mate shirring the top band may be utilized with .pockets joined together, the upper edges of each of said pockets,

brassieres of any and all types including those of the flat front-piece portion t v I am, of course, aware that many 0 ranges in the details of construction and relative arrangement of parts will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited tothe exact details disclosed by way of illustration, but rather to the s irit and scope of my invention as I define it In the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a brassiere construction substantially of the type described, two breast receiving shirring bands along elastic and non-elastic shirring elements disposed in said bands, and means secured to the free ends of said pockets for adjustably securing the shirred' ockets to the wearers body by encircling tlie same at or about the wearers waist line.

2. In a brassiere construction substantially of the type described, two breast receiving pockets joined together, shirring bands along each of the upper ed es thereof, elastic elements disposed in an secured to each end of saidband on each pocket, apertures opening from said bands approximately halfway between the ends thereof and non-elastic elements passing through said a ertures and secured to the free ends of sai ments.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 1st day of December A. D. Q

ENID BISSETT.

elastic ele- 

